Grand Traverse Bay and cherry country

Grand Traverse Bay is the centerpiece of the region — a deep, sparkling arm of Lake Michigan, the second-largest bay on the lake, with sandy beaches and clear blue water. The long, narrow Old Mission Peninsula juts up the middle and splits the bay into an East Arm and a West Arm, giving it a wishbone shape, with Traverse City tucked in at the south end where the Boardman River comes in. People sail, fish (lake trout, salmon, and whitefish), swim, and paddle here all summer.

The bay also does something special for farming: it moderates the climate just enough that fruit thrives along its shores. This is the heart of Michigan’s cherry country — Traverse City calls itself the Cherry Capital of the World, the hills are covered in orchards, and the National Cherry Festival each July is the region’s biggest event. The same climate feeds the vineyards and wineries that have made the area a wine destination, too.

For buyers, bay frontage is some of the most prized and expensive property in northern Michigan, and orchard-and-vineyard land has its own strong demand. As with any waterfront, check exactly where your lot meets the water and whether access is private or shared — and remember the county’s newer rule requiring a septic inspection before selling a home within about 300 feet of the water (see the well-and-septic note).